raced wide, led 1st, headed after 7th, lost 2nd before next, soon struggling and no chance in 3rd
led until mistake and headed 1st, pressed leader, led after 7th, hit 3 out, joined when mistake and narrowly headed 2 out, rallied to regain lead final 100 yards, won going away
chased leading pair, 2nd before 3 out, led narrowly and not fluent 2 out, stongly pressed last, headed and no extra final 100 yards
held up in last pair, pushed along after 5th, driven and struggling before 7th, plugged on in modest 4th from 3 out, never on terms
chased leading trio, not fluent 7th, soon struggling, weakened, lost poor 4th 3 out, tailed off
reluctant and pushed along early, soon last, struggling after 5th, tailed off 7th, pulled up after 3 out
Alberto's Dream is 6lb higher than when successful over course and distance in November, when Helamis was behind, but ran well when third at Chepstow last month and has to go on the short-list. Vaillant Creek would have claims on his second at Market Rasen in December and A P McCoy rides but THE DARLING BOY looks the one to be on here. He is best caught fresh so the lack of a recent run is a positive and he's certainly handicapped to be thereabouts on the pick of his previous form.
Vaillant Creek (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, ridden and struggling 7th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Derrintogher Bliss (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
The Darling Boy 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd after 4th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 9, well behind Ballygrooby Bertie (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Alberto's Dream 10-1 (10-4) Chased leading pair, driven and one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Cash Injection (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Looks Like Magic 66-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, In rear, behind 7th, 8th of 10, well behind As De Mee (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) hvy in Jan.
Blue Top 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, struggling from 7th, 7th of 11, 18l behind Trafficker (11-1) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Helamis 14-1 (11-2) Held up, well beaten after 5th, plugged on from 2 out, never any chance, 5th of 9, 30l behind Catchin Time (10-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan.
Sassanova (FR) 17-2 (11-6) Close up in 3rd, went 4th from 3 out, one pace, 5th of 10, 7l behind Billy Two Tongues (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
